Council on Aging Answers 2016 - 64

COUNCIL ON AGING - ORANGE COUNTY

HOUSING

o Has there been a recent turnover in key staff?
o How many direct care staff are there for each shift?
o What is the staff to resident ratio? What is the ratio on the night
shift? Weekends?
o What is the turnover rate among direct care staff?
o Does direct care staff understand and speak English?
o What special training do staff receive in working with persons
with dementia?
o Do the administration and staff know the residents by name?
o Does staff take time to talk with residents?
o Do administration and staff interact with residents in a respectful way?
o How long does it take for staff to respond to a resident's request
for help or to a call bell?
o Does staff respect residents' privacy by knocking on doors or
announcing themselves before entering rooms?
o Does the staff wear name badges?
Quality of Environment
o Is the overall décor pleasant and homelike?
o Is the environment clean and odor free?
o Is the facility quiet or noisy?
o Is the temperature comfortable?
o Does the building seem safe and free from dangerous hazards?
Cluttered?
o Are the residents' rooms, hallways, and common areas well
lighted?
o Are floors of non-skid material and are carpets firm to ease
walking and to prevent falls?
o Is the dining room pleasant and inviting?
o Are common areas, bedrooms and bathrooms accessible to
wheelchairs and walkers?
o Are bathrooms conveniently located?
o How many residents share a bathroom?
o Do all bathrooms, showers and bathtubs have handgrips or
rails?
o Are call bells accessible to residents? By bed? In bathrooms?
o Is there privacy in residents' rooms, especially in shared rooms?
o Is there any place to have a private conversation?
o Are residents encouraged to bring in some of their own furnishings?
o Is there a bedside table, reading light, chest of drawers and at
least one comfortable chair for each resident?
o Is there a locked drawer to store valuables? If not, does facility
make provisions to store valuables?
o Is there adequate space for clothing and personal belongings in
each room?
o Does the facility have extra storage space for residents' belongings?
o Are there outside sitting and walking areas for residents? Are
any covered to protect from sun or rain?
o Is there a fenced yard? Locked?
o Are there enough fire and carbon monoxide detectors?
o Is there a designated smoking area? Inside? Outside?
o Is there a disaster plan posted? How often does the facility hold
drills?

64

Answers Guide 2016	

PRACTICAL DIMENSIONS
Accessibility
o Is the facility close to family and friends who will be visiting
most frequently?
o Is the facility near public transportation?
o Is there adequate parking for residents that drive, and residents'
family and friends?
o Is the facility in an area where it would be safe to visit at night?
o Is the facility convenient to the resident's doctor? Home health
agency?
o Is the facility close to a hospital?
o Are family and friends welcome at any time or are there strict
visiting hours?
Suitability
o Does the facility have a good reputation in the community?
o Will they give you a list of references?
o Are residents and/or family members willing to talk with you
about the facility?
o How did the administrator and staff treat you when showing
you around?
o Did they answer all your questions to your satisfaction?
o Did they show you around the entire facility? Were any areas or
sections not shown to you? Why?
o Do you feel that the administrator and staff are people you can
work with and communicate with honestly?
o How would you or your loved one fit in? Is this facility compatible with your lifestyle?
o Can you imagine yourself or your loved one living here?
o How did you feel when visiting the facility?
Affordability
o Are Supplemental Security Income (SSI) residents accepted?
o Do the estimated monthly costs (including extra charges) compare favorably with other facilities?
o Are there any upfront fees, e.g., assessment, community fees?
o What services are included in the basic rate?
o What is the cost for extra services? Levels of care? How is the
need for extra services or higher levels of care determined?
o What are the costs for specialized services, e.g., dementia unit?
o Will the facility continue to charge a resident who is transferred
to a nursing home or hospital and does not return to the facility?
o Are the costs and payment schedule clearly described in the
admission agreement?
o Ask the facility for a copy of the most recent rate increase disclosure statement to find out the average monthly rate increases (actual amount and percentage) for each of the previous three years.
o Are the total monthly charges affordable over time?
o Will the facility give you a copy of the admission agreement to
take home and study before making a final decision?
REPRINTED FROM CALIFORNIA ADVOCATES FOR NURSING
HOME REFORM
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Council on Aging Answers 2016
